Scholars at Risk, SEACAF join side event at UNHRC 59th session, present regional approaches to implementing the right to academic freedom
Scholars at Risk, SEACAF, and other regional coalitions presenting comprehensive regional approaches to implementing the right to academic freedom at the 59th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
Across the globe, academic freedom is increasingly under threat—from the commodification and defunding of education to anti-science agenda-setting, gender censorship, and precarious academic labor. Military surveillance on campuses and the silencing of dissenting voices have further undermined the university as a space for free and critical thought. Scholars at Risk, SEACAF, and global coalitions have consistently raised alarm on these trends, calling for solidarity and coordinated advocacy to defend academic spaces.
Now, more than ever, there is an urgent push to adopt a global resolution recognizing the right to academic freedom as an integral part of the right to education. As Dr. Bencharat Sae Chua, regional director of SEACAF emphasized, institutions and universities must be part of this advocacy—developing policies and protocols that promote and protect academic freedom at all levels. This is not just a regional concern, but a global imperative. Defending the right to think, teach, and research freely is essential to the health of democratic societies and the future of education itself.
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You may show solidarity by posting messages, or photos on your social media using the hashtags: #RightToAcademicFreedom #AcademicFreedomNow #ReclaimingTheSpace #SEACAF
The right to academic freedom is vital to preserving cultures of research, teaching, inquiry, and expression that uphold rights-respecting societies. Yet, for over two decades, this right has been under growing threat worldwide. Data from the 2024 Academic Freedom Index and Scholars at Risk’s Free to Think report reveal alarming declines across all regions. You may read the full concept note through this link: http://bit.ly/4efKCue
To reverse this trend, we need strong, coordinated responses—globally, through frameworks like the Principles for Implementing the Right to Academic Freedom, and regionally, through coalitions and collective action. We would deeply appreciate your support in advancing these efforts and protecting academic freedom for current and future generations.
Event Date: 24 June 2025
Time: 12:00 – 13:00 (Geneva time)
17:00 – 18:00 (GMT+7 | Bangkok time)
Location: Room XXII, Palais des Nations, Geneva / Online
